Condenser-switch.



M. SULTZER.

CONDENSER SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED 0zc.20. 1915.

Patented Dec. 25,1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

//1 venfor: Moria/7 Ju/fzer.

M. SULTZER.

CONDENSER SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED 050.20. I915.

1,251,440. Patented Dec. 25,1917; I47? 5 2 SHEETS SHEET 2.

.condensers of the relative capacities of 1, 2, I

UNITED STATES PATENT cram MORTON SULTZEB, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB, T0 WESTERN ELECTRIC COM- .PANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CONDENSER-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 25, 1917.

Application filed December 20, 1915. Serial No. 67,888.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New. Yorkhave invented certain new and useful Improvements :in Condenser- Switches, .of which thefollowing is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to a condenser switch and its purpose is to construct a condenser box'containing a peculiar switch by means of which'the number of condenser elements present shall be materially reduced, but which will still permit of a complete step-by-step adjustment between certain limits of capacity.

It has been-found that for the construction of a'decade condenser box it is unnec essary to use so many as ten diiferent condenser elements, each of unit size or of successively increasing size, butthat. the desired result may be obtained by the use of new switch in combination .with four 3 and 6 respectively. I

The invention residesin this switch and inthe manner of connecting the condenser elements thereto, and will be better understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is aschematic drawing of the connections for a ten-point or decade box; Fig. 2 is a modified elevation of arrangement for a nine-polnt box;vFig. 3 is a plan view of the switch; Fig. 4 is an id switch with certain parts shown in cross-section and Fig). 5 is a perspective view of a four decade ox with certain additions. Referring to Fig. 1, there are shown four condensers 11, 12, 13 and 160i the relative capacities of 1, 2, 3 and 6.. Conveniently located with respect .to these condensers there is a plate of insulating material 27, such as hard rubber, shown in Fig. 4, on

which there is mounted a series of twentytwo metallic buttons,'similar in form and preferably-arranged circularly as shownin igsf l and 3. Concentric to the circle formed by these buttons there is an annular metallic ring 21,- which has a portion thereof removed, and in this vacant space there is placed a small segment 22, WhlCh partiall fills the opening but remains insulate from the portion 21. Leading from MORTON SULTZER, a.

there goes a conductor 18 connected to the the condenser 11 is a conductor 17 making connection with the buttons lettered D, and P. Similarly from the condenser 12 buttons F, K and R. From the condenser 13 goes a conductor 19 connected to the buttons H, J, L, T and V. From the condenser 16 goes a conductor 20 connected to the buttons N, Q, S, U and W, all as shown in Fig. 1.

Rotatably mounted at the center of the ring 21 is a contact member 23, one end 25 thereof contacting with certain of the buttons and the other end 28 contacting with the ring 21 or segment 22 as explained later. An insulating knob 26 is secured to. this member 23 in order that it may be rotated conveniently. Both ends of the member 23 are bifurcated as shown at 25 and at 28, this being for the purpose of rendering better contact with the buttons. The width of the arm 25 contacting with the buttons is such that it will normally be in contact with two of the buttons, but never with three. Conductors 26 and 27 are connected respectively to the ring 21 and to the terminals of the condensers opposite to those terminals which are connected to the buttons.

By reference to the Figs. 1 and 3 it will be apparent that whenthe member 23' is so placed that the one end contacts with the buttons A, B, then 'zerocapacity is included in the circuit 26 and 27. If the member 23 is now rotated so as to be in contact with the buttons G and D, the condenser 11 will be included in the circuit. When rotated to contact with E and, F, the condenser 12 will be in the circuit. When in contact with G and H, the capacity 13 will be in the circuit." When in contactwithl and J, it will be seen that thecondensers '11- and 13 are connected to the circuit-in parallel, giving thereby a capacity ofA; When in contact with the buttons K and-L, the condensers 12 and 13 8.I8COI1l'10t8d in parallel, giving a capacity of 5. On making contact with the buttons M and N, the capacity 16 alone is inserted, and this results in a capacity of 6 placed in the circuit. Contact withthe buttons P and Q places condensers the condensers 13 and 16 into circuit, giving a capacity of 9. Upon making contact with the buttons V and W, the end 28 of the member 23 makes contact both with 21 and 5 22; and from the circuit as shown in Fig. 1

it will be seen that the condensers 11, 13

and 16 are placed in the circuit, all in'parallel, resulting in a capacity of 10.

From the description given above it is seen that by the use of twenty-two buttons and by the use of four condensers, one is able to get a capacity of any value from zero to varying by definite steps.

Fig. 2 shows a modification in which the ring 21 is closed, the segment 22 being omitted. in this case there are but twenty buttons, being represented by the letters from A to U. The connections in this case are identical to those shown in Fig. 1 except in this simpler form it is possible to obtain capacities varying step by step from zero to 9.

In Fig. 5 there is shown a condenser box, containing four such boxes as described above, connected. in parallel, and each box differing from the preceding box by a factor of 10 in the" magnitude of its capacity; for example, the decade 31 may have as its smallest element a capacity of .001 microfarad, so that the total decade will have a capacity of .01. microfarad. Decade 32 will have as its smallest unit a capacity of .01 microfarad so that its total capacity will be 5 .1 of a microfarad. Decade 33 will have as its smallest element a capacity of .1 micro farad and its total capacity will be 1 micro-' farad. Decade 34- will have as its smallest element a capacity of 1 and its total capacity will. be 10 microfarads. By suitably placing the, various knobs, it is thus possible to obtain any c pacity from zero to a maximum of 11.11 microtarads varying by steps of .001 microfarad.

In such a multiple box as this, it will fre quently be sufiicient to have each box similar to that shown in Fig. 2. In this case the box 31 would havea maximum capacity of .009 microfarad, and the next step of .010 microfarad would be obtained by placing 31 on zero and 32 on 1. In this case the maximum capacity to be obtained from the multiple box will be 9.999 microfarads.

It has been found. that it is sometimes convenient, in such av box as shown in Fi 5, to use, in addition to the decades shown, a condenser of capacity of 10 microfarads which may be thrown into circuitby means of the switch 40, and also a condenser of capacity 20 microfarads to be thrown in by a switch 41. In this case a total capacity of 11.11 with all the intermediate values to zero may be obtained. In this multiple box there are shown terminals 36 and 37, which are connected to the leads 26 and 2? of Figs. 1 and that the buttons V and W are omitted, and.

instants 2, and to these terminals would be connected any suitable external circuit. 1V hile the condensers are shown and described as connected to certain buttons, it is apparent that these connections may be changed somewhat without altering the results obtained, and that certain other changes may be made without departing from the spirit of this invention. F or example, while the buttons are shown arranged circularly andthe member 21 in the form of a concentric ring, it is clear that the buttons may be arranged in a straight line and the member 21 made in the form of a straight strip placed adjacent to the row of buttons. In this case it will be most convenient to have the row of buttons commence with the button shown as A.

It is also to be understood that one may use any number of decades connected. as shown in Fig. 5, and that the'smallest unit in the first decade may be any unit desired other than .001 microfarad as described.

What is claimed is: y 1

1. A plurality of electrical, elements having non-uniformly graduated values, and means for successively connecting said elements in such combinations inparallel as to provide a uniform graduation 1n values.

2. Electrical apparatus comprising four condensers having relative values of 1, 2, 3 and 6, and means for insuring connection of said condensers by unit steps from zero to nine.

3. Electrical apparatus comprising four electrical elements having relative values of 1, 2, 3 and 6, and means for connecting said elements in parallel by unit stops vfrom zero to-nine.

4. Electrical apparatus comprising four electrical elements having relative values of l, 2, 3 and 6, and a single switch for connecting said elements in parallel by unit steps from zero to nine.

5. Electrical apparatus comprising four electrical elements having relative valuesot' 1, 2, 3 and 6, and a rotatable member for connecting said elements in parallel by unit steps from zero to nine.

6.111 a decade condenser box, four condensers having relative values-of 1, 2, 3 and 6, a switch connected to said condensers, said switch being adapted to so connect-the con-v densers that capacities varying from 0 to '10, by unit steps, may be obtained.

7. Ina decade condenser box, four conable contact memberv adapted to make contact between said buttons and said fixed member, connections from said condensers to said buttons so arranged that capacities varying from O to 10,.by unit steps, may be obtained.

9. In a decade condenser box, four condensers of different capacities, a switch comprising a plurality of fixed contact members not greater than twenty-four in number, a movable contact member adapted to make contact between certain of said fixed members, connections from said condensers to said fixed members wherebyv capacities varying from 0 to 10, by unit steps, may be obtained.

10. In a decade condenser box, four condensers of different capacities, a switch comprisingtwenty-two contact buttons arranged circularly, a strip and a segment arranged concentrically and adjacent to said buttons, a movable contact member adapted to make contact between said buttons and said contact strip, connections from said condensers to said buttons and said segment, and a movable contact member adapted to make contact between certain of said buttons and said strip whereby capacities varying from 0 to 10, by unit steps, may be obtained.

11. In a variable condenser box, a plurality of decade condenser boxes connected in parallel, one of said decade boxes consisting of four condensers having relative values of 1, 2, 3 and 6; a switch connected to said condensers, said switch consisting of twenty-two contact buttons, certain of said buttons being connected to the condens ers, but no button being connected to more than one condenser; a metallic strip arranged adjacent to said buttons, a contact arm arranged to contact at all times with said metallic strip and with at least one and not more than two of said buttons, the remaining boxes being similar in construction, but having capacitles which differ successively by a factor of ten.

12. In a decade condenser box, four condensers having relative values of 1, 2, 3 and 6, a switch connected to said condensers, said switch consisting of, twenty-two contact buttons, certain of said units being connected to the different condensers and no button being connected to more than one condenser; a metallic strip arranged adjacent to said buttons, a'contact arm adapted to contact with said metallic strip and adapted, at all times to contact with at least one and not more than two of said buttons, whereby capacities from zero to ten and varying by steps of one unit may be obtained.

13. In a decade condenser box, four conbuttons arranged circularly, certain of said buttons being connected to the condenser of capacity 1, certain of said buttonsbeing connected to the condenser of capacity 2, certain other buttons being connected to the condenser of capacity 3 and certain other buttons being connected to the condenser of capacity 6, an interrupted annular ring concentric to said buttons, a segment in the interrupted space of said ring and opposite to the last of said buttons and connected to the condenser of capacity 1, an arm mounted to rotate on an axis at the center of said annular ring, one end of said arm adapted to contact with said annular ring or with said ring and said segment, and the other end adapted at all times to contact with at least one and not more than two of said buttons.

14. In a nine-point condenser box, four condensers having relative values of 1, 2, 3 and 6, a switch connected to said condensers, said switch consisting of twenty contact but- \tons arranged circularly, buttons 4, 9 and 15 being connected to the condenser of capacity 1, buttons 6, l1 and 17 being connected to the condenser of capacity 2, buttons 8, 10, 12, 19 and 21 being-connected to the condenser of capacity 3 and buttons 14, 16, 18 and 20 being connected to the condenser of capacity 6; an annular ring concentric to said buttons, an arm mounted to rotate on an axis at the center of said annular ring, one end of said arm adapted to contact with said annular ring and the other end adapted at all times to contact with at least one end and not more than two of said buttons, whereby capacities from zero to 9 and varying by steps of one unit may be obtained.

15. In a decade condenser box, four condensers having relative values of 1, 2, 3 and 6, a switch connected to said condensers, said switch consisting of a series of twenty-two contact buttons, buttons 4, 9 and '15 being connected to the condenser of capacity 1, buttons 6, 11 and 17 being connected to the condenser of capacity 2, buttons 8, 10, 12, 19 and 21 being connectedto the condenser of capacity 3 and buttons 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22 being connected to the condenser of capacity 6; ametallic strip arranged opposite to said buttons, a sliding contact memberadapted to contact with sald metallic strip and a portion of said member being adapted at all times to contact with at least one and not more than two of said buttons.

16. In a decade condenser box, four condensers having relative values of 1, 2, 3 and 6, a switch connected to said condensers, said switch consisting of a series of twenty-two contact buttons, buttons 4, 9 and 15 being connected to the condenser of capacity 1, buttons 6, 11 and 17 being connected to the condenser of capacity 2, buttons 8, 10, 12, 19 and 21 being connected to the condenser of capacity 3 and buttons 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22 being connected to the condenser of capacity v6; a metallic strip arranged opposite to and extending from button 1 to button 22, the portion opposite to "button 22 being separated from the remainder of said member and connected to the condenser of capacity 1., a sliding contact member mounted to contact with said metallic strip or with said strip and adjacent segment, and anotherportion adapted at all times to, contact with at least one and not more than two of said'buttons, whereby capacities from zero to 10 andvarying by steps of one unit may be obtained.

7 17. In a decade condenser box, four condensers having relative values of l, 2, 3, and 6, a switch connected to said condensers, said switch consisting of twenty-two'contact buttons arranged circularly, buttons 4, 9 and 15 being connected to the condenser of capacity 1, buttons 6, 11 and 17' being connected to the condenser of capacity 2, buttons 8, 10, 12, 19 and 21 being connected to the condenser of capacity 3 and buttons 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22 being connected to the condenser of capacity 6; an interrupted annular ring concentric to said buttons, a segment in the interrupted space of said ring and opposite to button 22 and connected to the condenser of capacity 1, an arm mounted to rotate on an axis at the center of said annular ring, one end of said arm adapted to contact with said annular ring or with said ring and said segment, and the other end adapted at all times to contact with least one and no more than two of sald buttons whereby capacities from innate condenser of capacity 2, buttons 8, 10, 12, 19 and 21 being connected to the condenser of capacity 3 and buttons 14 16, 18, 20 and 22 being connected to the condenser of capacity 6, the remaining buttons being idle; an interrupted annular ring concentrictwith said buttons, a segment in the interrupted space of said ring opposite to button 22 and connected to the condenser of capacity 1; an arm mounted to rotate on an axis at the center of said annular ring, one end of said arm adapted to contact with said annular ring or with said ring and said segment, and the other end adapted at all times to contact with at least one and not more than twoof said buttons, the remaining boxes being similar in construction, but having capacities which diiier successively by a factor of 10.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe myname this 16th day of December A. D.,

MORTON SULTZER. 

